Write a story which includes the words, ‘… this could not be the present …’

Once upon a time, there was a young man named Jack who lived a simple and ordinary life. He had a routine job, a small apartment, and a few close friends. But one day, as he was walking home from work, he stumbled upon a mysterious portal.

Without hesitation, he stepped through it and found himself in a completely different world. The sky was a deep shade of purple and the buildings were made of a strange, shimmering material. As he looked around in awe, he couldn't help but mutter to himself, "This could not be the present."

As he walked through the streets, he noticed that the people here were different too. They had pointed ears and their skin was a pale blue. They spoke a language he couldn't understand, but they seemed friendly enough.

Jack eventually came across a group of people gathered around a large building. Curious, he approached them and was greeted by a woman who introduced herself as Eira. She could speak his language and explained that he was in a parallel dimension.

Eira offered to show him around and Jack eagerly accepted. As they explored the city, Jack learned that this dimension was in danger. A powerful being known as the Shadow King was threatening to destroy it and its people.

Jack knew that he had to help in any way he could. Eira and her friends trained him in their ways of combat and together, they formed a plan to defeat the Shadow King.

The final battle was fierce and intense, but with the help of his new friends, Jack was able to defeat the Shadow King and save the dimension. As he stood victorious, he couldn't help but wonder if he would ever be able to return to his own world. But for now, he was content in knowing that he made a difference in this one.